RAGIN' REVIEW: All Good Music Festival

WOW!!! What an amazing weekend of music! I was incredibly psyched to spend my first camping festival in over two years at Berry Hill Farm in Summit Point, WV. Check out my review of All Good Music Festival on Live Music Daily!

All Good Music Festival Day 1

All Good Music Festival Days 2 & 3

PHOTOS: All Good Music Festival

Check out these photos I took during All Good Music Festival this past weekend. Stay tuned for my full review on Live Music Daily, coming to you later this week!

Railroad Earth w/Neal Casal

All Gooders

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

Campground

Twiddle

Cabinet

B Side Shuffle

TAUK

All Gooders

Pigeons Playing with Bubbles

Railroad Earth

MEDIA PASS APPROVED: All Good Music Festival

In a last minute addition, I am incredibly excited to announce that I've been approved to cover All Good Music Festival this weekend for Live Music Daily! I will get to see many long overdue firsts this weekend (including Dark Star Orchestra, Primus, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, SOJA, Joe Russo's Almost Dead, The Word and more), as well as quite a few of my favorite live shows (including moe., STS9, Railroad Earth, Greensky Bluegrass, Yonder Mountain String Band and more)! Stay tuned to follow my adventures throughout the next three days.

RAGIN' REVIEW: Cabinet at Lafayette's Music Room

Cabinet is gradually making bigger and bigger waves in the bluegrass scene! It was so nice to finally see them make it to Memphis! The quintet invaded Lafayette's Music Room with style, and I was fortunate enough to meet them in person once again. Check out my review and photos from the show at the link below!

Cabinet - Lafayette's Music Room, Memphis, TN (March 22, 2015)

For more concert reviews, please click here, or use the menu on the left hand side of the site for more Ragin' Reviews!

JUST ANNOUNCED: Yonder Mountain String Band Spring Tour 2015

Yonder Mountain String Band just announced their Spring 2015 Tour dates, which will take the band from the West Coast, Mountain West and Midwest regions. See dates below!

JUST ANNOUNCED: Cabinet Announces FREE Album Release

Rising bluegrass jam band Cabinet has announced its first studio release since 2012's Leap. The new album is called Celebration, and it will be released in just ONE WEEK... FOR FREE!!! The official release date is March 5, 2015. The official announcement from the band's Facebook page is below.

Cabinet:

"Very special announcement! We’re beyond thrilled to announce that the new Cabinet record, CELEBRATION, is ready to roll! So thrilled, in fact, that we’ll be releasing our first studio album in quite some time ONE week from today. For FREE! Just head on over towww.noisetrade.com (an album specific link will be available next week) and it’s yours. That’s it. No strings attached. You'll notice the release date lines up nicely with our newly renamed CELEBRATION TOUR kick off in Ithaca, NY. What we’re hoping is that you will share this record with as many people as possible. Family, friends, neighbors, strangers, anyone you think will enjoy our music. Thank you for all of the love and support over the years. We are truly grateful to have the #bestfansintheland. Enjoy.

Look for other album news and updates including our very first vinyl release PledgeMusic campaign, coming soon!

Preview a track today here:

https://soundcloud.com/cabinet/celebration

Note: CELEBRATION will be available for FREE download from 3/5/15 to 4/5/15. After that you’ll need to visit iTunes, amazon, etc to purchase the album."

Catch Cabinet at Lafayette's Music Room in Memphis, TN on March 22, 2015.

RAGIN' REVIEW: Jeff Austin Band w/Graber Grass

Thursday, February 19, 2015, Jeff Austin brought his new band to 1884 Lounge in Memphis, TN. Just under a year after leaving Yonder Mountain String Band to pursue his solo career, Austin seems to be a man on a mission! Check out my review AND photos from the evening at the link below!

Jeff Austin Band w/Graber Grass - 1884 Lounge, Memphis, TN (February 19, 2015)

For more concert reviews, please click here, or use the sidebar on the left side of the site for more Ragin' Reviews!

NYE Runs Recap

December 29, 2014

Railroad Earth
Variety Plahouse - Atlanta, GA

Set 1: Chasin' a Rainbow, Lordy, Lordy, Bread and Water, Been Down This Road, The Good Life, Goat, Potter's Field> Lone Croft Farewell, My Sisters and Brothers*

Set 2: Just So You Know, 420, Walk Beside Me> The Hunting Song> Grandfather Mountain, Old Dangerfield, Crossing the Gap, When the Sun Gets in Your Blood, Mighty River*, The Jupiter and the 119> Hard Livin'*, Peace on Earth*

Encore: Long Way To Go*

* with Sheryl Renee on vocals

String Cheese Incident 
1ST BANK Center - Broomfield, CO

Set 1: 'Round the Wheel, Sirens, These Waves > Jam > Bumpin' Reel, Outside and Inside > Dirk > Get Down on It > Dirk

Set 2: Colliding, So Far From Home > Wheel Hoss, Until the Music's Over > It Is What It Is, You've Got the World, Looking Glass > Shine

Encore: Beautiful

The Disco Biscuits
Best Buy Theatre - New York, NY

Set 1: Bernstein & Chasnoff-> Voices Insane-> Pilin it Higher-> M.E.M.P.H.I.S.-> Tempest-> Bernstein & Chasnoff

Set 2: Uber Glue-> House of Dog Party Favor-> I-Man-> House Dog Party Favor-> Catalyst

Encore: Spy-> November Rain

After Party (B.B. King's Blues Club): Confrontation-> And the Ladies Were the Rest of the Night-> Orch Theme-> Tricycle-> Orch Theme-> And the Ladies Were the Rest of the Night-> Confrontation

December 30, 2014

Widespread Panic
The Fillmore - Charlotte, NC

Set 1: Let's Get The Show On The Road, Radio Child, Holden Oversoul, One Arm Steve, All Time Low, Mercy* > Fishwater*, Ophelia*, Bust It Big*

Set 2: Driving Song > Little Lilly > Rock > Vacation^ > Driving Song > JAM > Drumz > Familiar Reality^^, Tall Boy, Up All Night*, One Kind Favor^^^ > North

Encore: Tail Dragger*, Life During Wartime* (11 mins)

* w/ Randall Bramblett & The Megablasters
^ LTP 3.20.14 Playa Tres
^^ LTP 7.04.14 Las Vegas
^^^ LTP 6.19.14 Cleveland

Railroad Earth
Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA

Set 1: Cold Water> Luxury Liner, Old Man and the Land, For Love. Carrying Coal to Newcastle, A Day on the Sand, Daddy-O, Seven Story Mountain

Set 2: Elko, Shockenaw Mountain Breakdown, Bringin' My Baby Back Home, Black Elk Speaks> Face with a Hole, Hangtown Ball, Colorado, Right in Tune> 1759> Fisherman's Blues, Head

Encore: Take a Bow

String Cheese Incident
1STBANK Center - Broomfield, CO

Set 1: Best Feeling > Restless Wind, Betray The Dark, 45th of November, Master Blaster (Jammin') > Drums > Joyful Sound > Texas

Set 2: Valley Of The Jig, Sometimes A River, Howard > Birdland, Here To Stay, Close Your Eyes > Colorado Bluebird Sky

Encore: Freedom Jazz Dance, Little Hands

Umphrey's McGee
The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA

Set 1: Nipple Trix > Andy's Last Beer, Padgett's Profile, Thin Air, Blue Echo[1] > 40's Theme, Preamble > Mantis > Proverbial > Miss Tinkle's Overture

Set 2: Educated Guess, Ocean Billy > Frankie Zombie, The Triple Wide[2], Pay the Snucka[3], Divisions > Ocean Billy

Encore: Much Obliged[4] > Mantis

[1] with The Linear teases
[2] with Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac) and Relax (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) teases
[3] with Stranglehold (Ted Nugent) and Mantis teases

[4] unfinished

The Disco Biscuits
Best Buy Theatre - New York, NY

Set 1: Neck Romancer, Strobelights and Martinis-> Cyclone-> Above the Waves (inverted)-> Munchkin Invasion (end)

Set 2: Magellan, Mindless Dribble-> Spacebirdmatingcall-> Spraypaint-> Spacebirdmatingcall

Encore: Morph Dusseldorf

Gov't Mule
Beacon Theatre - New York, NY

Set 1: World Boss > Whisper In Your Soul, Stoop So Low (Outro 2), Forsaken Savior > Stratus, The Joker, Bird On A Wire > with The Better Half Singers (Machan Taylor& Mini Carlsson), The Letter with The Better Half Singers (Machan Taylor& Mini Carlsson)

Set 2: Done Got Wise, Broke Down On The Brazos > Tributary Jam, Mr. Big with Simon Kirke & without Matt Abts, The Hunter > with Simon Kirke & without Matt Abts, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl > with Simon Kirke & without Matt Abts, The Hunter with Simon Kirke & without Matt Abts, Gameface with Birdland & Mountain Jam Teases, Thorazine Shuffle > Drums > Thorazine Shuffle > Funny Little Tragedy > with Message In A Bottle lyrics, Thorazine Shuffle Reprise

Encore: Hot Legs with Carmine Appice & without Matt Abts; First Time Played, Stay With Me with Carmine Appice & without Matt Abts

moe.
Palace Theatre - Albany, NY

Set 1: Skrunk > Timmy Tucker, Do Or Die > Water >(nh) Puebla > Wind It Up

Set 2: 32 Things >(nh) Paper Dragon, Kids > The Bones Of Lazarus, This I Know, Buster

Encore: Don't Fear The Reaper, Captain America

December 31, 2014

Phish
American Airlines Arena - Miami, FL

Set 1: Sample in a Jar, The Wedge, 555, Heavy Things, Wolfman's Brother, Halfway to the Moon, Bouncing Around the Room, Kill Devil Falls, Train Song, Waiting All Night, Axilla, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing

Set 2: Birds of a Feather, Ghost > Theme From the Bottom -> Cities > Chalk Dust Torture, Martian Monster

Set 3: Dem Bones[1] > Auld Lang Syne > The Dogs > Tweezer > Simple > Limb By Limb, Bug > Backwards Down the Number Line, The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Julius

Encore: Golgi Apparatus > Tweezer Reprise

[1] Phish debut; Fish on vacuum.

Teases:
· The Birds tease & quote in Theme From the Bottom

· Manteca tease in Cities

Widespread Panic
Time Warner Cable Arena - Charlotte, NC

Set 1: JB Greeting, *C Brown, *Space Wrangler, *No Sugar Tonight > *New Mother Nature, #Ain’t Life Grand, *@Lean On Me, *@Ain’t No Sunshine, *@Use Me

Set 2: Disco > Pigeons > Henry Parsons Died > Greta > Jam > You Got Yours > Imitation Leather Shoes, @Weiight Of The World, @Sharon

Set 3: Countdown With Steve Lopez, PA Auld Lang Syne > PA Burning Down The House, @Happy > Happy > @Happy > Porch Song > Blackout Blues > Cotton Was King > Climb To Safety, Stop Breakin’ Down Blues > Jam > Drum Solo > Bass And Drum Solo > Jam > Chilly Water, Pilgrims >
Porch Song Reprise

Encore: JB Thanks, High Time We Went, @A Little Help From My Friends, PA What A Wonderful World outro

* JB On Acoustic Guitar
# JB On Mandolin

@ With The Megablasters

Railroad Earth
Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA

Set 1: Monkey, Saddle of the Sun, Happy Song, Chains, The Forecast, Long Walk Home, Any Road, Dance Around Molly> Dandelion Wine, Lovin' You, The Cuckoo, Donkey for Sale, Everything Comes Together

Set 2: Walls of Time, Drag Him Down, Countdown to 2015>* Midnight Special, The Green Roofs of Eireann> Like a Buddha> Give That Boy a Hand, Untitled #12, Warhead Boogie> Black Bear, Tuba Mirum, One More Night On The Road, Stillwater Getaway, The Wheel

Encore: El Cumbanchero

* w/Papa Time

String Cheese Incident
1STBANK Center - Broomfield, CO

Set 1: Black Clouds, Smile, Let's Go Outside, Sweet Spot, Water > Kinky Reggae > On The Road

Set 2: Cant Wait Another Day, Miss Brown's Teahouse, Desert Dawn, I'm Still Here, Way Back Home > Fool In The Rain > Way Back Home > Jellyfish > Desert Dawn

Set 3: Don't It Make You Wanna Dance, Land's End, Glory Chords > Celebration* > Rosie, Late In The Evening, Rivertrance, This Must Be The Place > Just One Story

Encore: Bollymunster, Good Times Around The Bend

* w/ Liza Oxnard

Umphrey's McGee
The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA

Set 1: Nothing Too Fancy > All In Time > Cut the Cable, Mad Love, In The Kitchen, Piranhas[1], Feelin' Alright[2]

Set 2: Puppet String[3] -> Hang Up Your Hang Ups[4], August, 1348[5] > Day Nurse > Nothing Too Fancy, Black Messiah[3], Last Call[3], Bright Lights, Big City

Set 3: Bad Friday[6] > Auld Lang Syne[3], Honky Tonk Women[3], Ringo[3], Plunger > Puppet String, No Diablo, The Linear > All In Time

Encore: Similar Skin[3], Living In America[7]

[1] debut, original; with Mad Dog and His Filthy Little Secret horns
[2] debut, Traffic/Joe Cocker; with Mad Dog and His Filthy Little Secret horns
[3] with Mad Dog and His Filthy Little Secret horns
[4] debut, Herbie Hancock; with Mad Dog and His Filthy Little Secret horns
[5] unfinished
[6] with Mad Dog and His Filthy Little Secret horns; unfinished
[7] debut, James Brown; with Mad Dog and His Filthy Little Secret horns

STS9
Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO

Set 1: Summit, Click Lang Echo > Moonsocket, New Dawn New Day > Move My Peeps > Kaya, Kabuki, Jebez

Set 2: Frequencies DnB > Frequencies Peace 2 > Frequencies Peace 3,
Inspire Strikes Back > Countdown > Auld Lang Syne > Music, Us, Life's Sweet Breath, March, Water Song, Scheme, Evasive Maneuvers > Potamus >
Kamuy

Encore: Squares and Cubes > By The Morning Sun

Greensky Bluegrass
Royal Oak Music Theatre - Royal Oak, MI

Set 1: Tied Down, 200 Miles, Don't lie, Handguns, Pig in a Pen, The Four, Windshield, Working on a Building*, Reuben's Train*

Set 2: Broke Mountain Breakdown > Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night > Auld Lang Syne > Feeling Alright** > Broke Mountain Breakdown, All Four, Letter to Seymour, In Control, Train Junkie, Demons, Leap Year

Encore: Washtenaw County***, Burn Them, Shape I'm In

* w/ Billy Strings & Mark???
** w/ saxophone

*** w/ Lindsey Lou

The Disco Biscuits
Best Buy Theater - New York, NY

Set 1: 7-11-> Reactor (ending), Aceetobee-> Crystal Ball-> Aceetobee

Set 2: Basis for a Day-> Thieving Magpie, Little Lai-> A Fifth of Beethoven (Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band, countdown, 1st time played), Helicopters-> The Great Abyss-> Helicopters

Set 3: Highwire-> Abraxas (inverted)-> Highwire, A Fifth of Beethoven-> Gangster-> Run Like Hell-> Basis for a Day

Encore: Once the Fiddler Paid

Gov't Mule
Beacon Theatre - New York, NY

Set 1: No Reward, Scared To Live, Banks Of The Deep End, Dolphineus > Painted Silver Light, Captured, Fool's Moon > Politician > Fool's Moon, Time To Confess, Railroad Boy > Lay Your Burden Down, Kind Of Bird, Bring On The Music

Set 2: Highway To Hell with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Let There Be Rock with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Sin City with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Shoot To Thrill with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Rock & Roll Ain't Noise Pollution with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Girls Got Rhythm with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Ride On > with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Night Prowler with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, T.N.T. with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Back In Black with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Hells Bells with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, You Shook Me All Night Long > with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Problem Child with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Beating Around The Bush with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played, Whole Lotta Rosie with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played

Encore: It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) with Myles Kennedy, First Time Played

moe.
Palace Theatre - Albany, NY

Set 1: Low Bridge#, Queen Of Everything, Smoke >(nh) Chromatic Nightmare, Shoot First, White Lightning Turpentine, Waiting For The Punchline

Set 2: Downward Facing Dog, Billy Goat > Bullet > Silver Sun, Ugly American*##, My Old School*%, Same Old Story*, Happy Hour Hero*^$

Set 3: Stone Free$%%, Time Ed > meat., Little Miss Cup Half Empty*, Annihilation Blues*, Dr. Graffenberg*

Encore: Time > Tubing The River Styx > The Pit

{First set acoustic
* w/ Conehead Buddha horn section: Shannon Lynch on saxophone, Terry Lynch on trumpet, Shaun Bazylewicz on trombone
^ w/ Marley Amico on sax, Madison Amico on percussion, Eddie Derhak on trumpet, Ayla Schnier on keys, Ben Schnier on drums
$ w/ Peter Prince on guitar & vox
# FTP - (cover - traditional / Thomas S. Allen)
## LTP - 7/15/10
% FTP - (cover - Steely Dan)

%% FTP - (cover - Jimi Hendrix)}

January 1, 2014

Phish
American Airlines Arena - Miami, FL

Set 1: Tube, Gumbo, David Bowie, Lawn Boy, Undermind, Yarmouth Road, Wingsuit, Poor Heart, Bathtub Gin

Set 2: Twist > Piper > Prince Caspian -> Twenty Years Later > Winterqueen, Wading in the Velvet Sea, Run Like an Antelope, Rock and Roll

Encore: Meatstick

Umphrey's McGee
The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA

Set 1: Bathing Digits > Hindsight[1], Hangover, Domino Theory, Prowler > 2nd Self, Utopian Fir[2], Don't You (Forget About Me), Resolution -> 1348

Set 2: Tribute to the Spinal Shaft[3] > Sociable Jimmy[4], Miami Virtue -> Lively Up Yourself, Full Frontal[1] -> Phil's Farm, The Floor

Encore: Immigrant Song, JaJunk[5] > Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough[6] > JaJunk

[1] debut, original
[2] with The Ocean (Led Zeppelin) tease
[3] with Bridgeless teases
[4] with Jake on keys
[5] with Entrance of the Gladiators (Julius Fučík) tease
[6] with Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Michael Jackson) quotes

STS9
Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO

Set: A Beautiful Chaos (Improv) > Peace One (Improv) >
Pianoir Outro (Improv), Modular (Improv), Drum & Bass (Improv) > Black Satin (Improv) > Dub (Improv) > Something in E (Improv)

Note: A Benefit for Conscious Alliance...

January 2, 2014

Phish
American Airlines Arena - Miami, FL

Set 1: Free, The Moma Dance > Possum, Roggae, Stash, Back on the Train, Sugar Shack, The Line, Ocelot, The Squirming Coil

Set 2: Mike's Song > 46 Days > Weekapaug Groove[1], Fuego > Slave to the Traffic Light, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Walls of the Cave

Encore: Sleeping Monkey > Rocky Top

[1] Trey on Marimba Lumina, Mike on guitar.

Teases:

· The Birds and Stash quotes in Weekapaug Groove

Umphrey's McGee
The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA

Set 1: You Got the Wrong Guy > Higgins, Der Bluten Kat > The Message > Der Bluten Kat, 2x2[1], Uncle Wally[2], Nemo[2] > Sweetness[2] > Nemo[2], Southern Cross[3]

Set 2: Hurt Bird Bath[4] -> Upward > Hurt Bird Bath, Push the Pig > The Fussy Dutchman, Conduit, In the Flesh[5] > Another Brick in the Wall[5], Mail Package

Encore: Glory, Slacker[6]

[1] with (I've Had) The Time Of My Life (Medley/Warnes) teases
[2] with Brendan and Jake on acoustics
[3] debut, Crosby Stills & Nash; with Brendan and Jake on acoustics
[4] with Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty) tease
[5] with Dave Murphy replacing Ryan on bass
[6] with Jake on keys; with The Message (Grandmaster Flash) jam

STS9
Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO

Set 1: Metameme, Grow, Oil & Water, 4 Year Puma, Trinocular > Vibyl, Nautilus > Aimlessly (second half), Crystal Instrument

Set 2: World Go Round > Totem, Mobsters > Too High (Stevie Wonder) > Mobsters, GLOgli, Breathe (Part 1) > Abcees (Ending), Walk to the Light, Rilly Wut?

Encore: Phoneme

Gov't Mule
Tower Theater - Upper Darby, PA

Set 1: Larger Than Life, Mule > I've Been Working > What Is Hip? > Mule, Wandering Child, Birth Of The Mule, Don't Step On The Grass, Sam, Little Toy Brain, Funny Little Tragedy with The Bed's Too Big Without You & Message In A Bottle lyrics, Spanish Moon with Ron Holloway

Set 2: Done Got Wise, Trane > Eternity's Breath > St. Stephen Jam, People Are Strange, Slackjaw, Jezebel > Drums > No Need To Suffer > Going Out West with Ron Holloway & Todd Kopec; Oh, Pretty Woman tease

Encore: To Love Somebody with Ron Holloway, Soulshine > with Ron Holloway, Tupelo Honey > with Ron Holloway, Soulshine with Ron Holloway

January 3, 2014

Phish
American Airlines Arena - Miami, FL

Set 1: Maze, AC/DC Bag > Divided Sky, Cavern > Scent of a Mule, Plasma, Devotion To a Dream, Water in the Sky, Split Open and Melt, Character Zero

Set 2: Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan > Down with Disease[1] > Light -> Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley > Sand > Harry Hood > Suzy Greenberg

Encore: Good Times Bad Times

[1] Unfinished.

Teases:
· Happy Birthday to You tease in Harry Hood
· Smoke on the Water tease in Scent of a Mule

· The Birds quote in Suzy Greenberg

Umphrey's McGee
The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA

Set 1: Le Blitz > Wappy Sprayberry > The Bottom Half, Syncopated Strangers > Partyin' Peeps, Professor Wormbog, Rocker Part 2, Led Boots[1] > Mulche's Odyssey

Set 2: Bridgeless > Hajimemashite, Dump City, The Crooked One[2] > Women Wine and Song, Cemetery Walk, Cemetery Walk II, No Comment[3] -> Bridgeless

Encore: It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

[1] debut, Jeff Beck
[2] with Pop Goes the Weasel tease

[3] with The Woody Woodpecker Song (Tibbles/Idriss) tease

Gov't Mule
Tower Theater - Upper Darby, PA

Set 1: I'm A Ram Black Dog tease, Rocking Horse, Which Way Do We Run, Mr. Man, Steppin' Lightly, Mr. High & Mighty, Fallen Down > The Other One Jam with Bill Evans, Opium > with Bill Evans, Thorazine Shuffle

Set 2: Forevermore, She Came In Through The Bathroom Window with Mini Carlsson & Machan Taylor (The Better-Half Singers), Child Of The Earth, Like Flies > Drums, If Heartaches Were Nickels, Dreams with Bill Evans, Blind Man In The Dark with Ain't No Sunshine lyrics & Bill Evans

Encore: Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) Warren & Matt, Million Miles From Yesterday with Mini Carlsson & Machan Taylor (The Better-Half Singers)

STS9
Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO

Set 1: Epirus > We'll Meet In Our Dreams, Arigato, Blu Mood, Peoples, Love Don't Terrorize, The Rabble, Ramone & Emiglio

Set 2: Shock Doctrine, Instantly, Hubble, One a Day (Sub-ID Remix), Circus, Rent > Sweet Dreams > Rent

Encore: Grizzly, ...And Some Are Angels > Breathe In (Ending)

Preview: Greensky Bluegrass at 1884 Lounge, Memphis, TN 10/01/14

Greensky Bluegrass has relentlessly worked their way up to the top of the live music scene. Touring practically nonstop and improving every step of the way, the band has carved itself a niche in the jamgrass scene. Greensky's unique take on improvisation leads audiences down a hypnotic path and leaves them mesmerized. Fresh off of the release of their brand new album, If Sorrows Swim, and still riding the wave of their successful opening set for Railroad Earth at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Greensky Bluegrass hits the 1884 Lounge at Minglewood Plaza tonight in Memphis, Tennessee. This show is a must-see for all live music lovers.

Check out If Sorrows Swim below, as well as my review of the album on Grateful Music.

Interview: Cabinet - Southern Brewers Festival, Chattanooga, TN (Aug 22, 2014)

In the bluegrass scene, there is one name that has been creating a stir, or buzz, lately: Cabinet. The six-piece group has honed in their sound through their love of music and, especially, playing music together. With a captivating repertoire of tunes spanning the fast-picking, foot-stomping tracks to melodic, harmonic tunes that will leave your head spinning, this talented group of musicians is continuously working their way up the totem pole, landing gigs at esteemed festivals such as Peach Music Festival, Lockn’ Festival and Catskill Chill Music Festival. On August 22, 2014, the band made their way down south to help Chattanooga’s Southern Brewers Festival celebrate its 20^th Anniversary. After a great set, despite the sweltering hot southern sun, I was fortunate enough to sit down with Mickey Coviello (guitar), Patrick “Pappy” Biondo (banjo) and Todd Kopec (fiddle) for a quick interview.

Ragin’ Randy: I’ve heard a lot about you guys in recent months, but I’m not real familiar with your story. Could one of you tell me a little bit about how you guys all met?

Mickey: Yeah, I grew up with the mandolin player (JP), and so did he [points to Patrick] because they are cousins. They have a big family, and they have family reunions every year, and they sing and dance and have a good time. But I went to school with [JP], and then, I think he graduated a year ahead of me from high school, and then I graduated, and we kind of just started playing music. He was on mandolin, and I was on open E tuning on like a 12-string acoustic guitar. Then, Pappy (Patrick) moved out here from Cleveland, Ohio, and we started doing these open mic nights at the River Street Jazz Café in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and that’s where we met. This guy [points to Todd], who was introduced to us by Dylan, our bass player, who was doing sound at the River Street Café, and he would just sit in and play bass with whoever wanted him to, so we had him sit in and play bass, and one night he was like, “Hey man, my friend Todd is here, and, you know, he plays fiddle…”

Patrick: Basically what it was is like, Mickey was playing guitar, JP was playing mandolin and I was playing banjo. We were thinking of starting a bluegrass band, and Todd was playing fiddle, you know, we need a fiddle player, Dylan played upright bass…

Mickey: Well, yeah, we weren't thinking of forming a bluegrass band, it just kind of just happened.

Patrick: Well, I mean, those kinds of instruments all go together, you know, like if Todd was a keyboard player or something, it might have been different, but it’s, like, fiddle, you know all the instruments kind of work together, so yeah, it just kind of made sense, and then later on, we decided to get a drummer into the group. Jamie was a local drummer for years, and that was about 2006 when the six of us were together as a unit.

Ragin’ Randy: Quite a story! [laughs] I really enjoyed Jamie’s drumming. He was definitely on point.

Patrick: Yeah, he’s a great drummer.

Ragin’ Randy: Well, that’s great. Thank you, that helps me get a much better idea of your background. I love those stories, especially when it just seems to come together so naturally.

Patrick: It was pretty organic, you know.

Ragin’ Randy: Definitely. So, tell me a little bit about your goals and ambitions as a band. All bands and artists want to be successful in their own way, so what does success mean to you?

Mickey: Success for me was getting paid to play music, whatever it was, you know? I never thought when I was in high school I’ll play in a band and make money doing it, you know, and then it just kind of happened. But, to me, we were successful when we first started playing shows for money. That’s me personally, that’s how I feel.

Todd: I would agree. I think making a sustainable living, you know.

Mickey: I mean, not saying that I’m, like, satisfied…

Ragin’ Randy: Right, you obviously always want to try and push it further.

Mickey: Sure, sure, and it kind of has happened, you know, steadily and organically.

Ragin’ Randy: Well, that’s a good way to think of it, you know, if you’re not necessarily satisfied but you feel that you’ve been successful, I would say that’s a good place to be in.

Mickey: Yeah.

Ragin’ Randy: So, you’ve said that everything’s happened so organically up to this point, but would you say that you are where you thought you would be at this point?

Mickey: Wow…

Patrick: I don’t think we ever thought much about how far it would go, you know, we’ve kind of been taking it on a yearly basis, you know? What’s going to happen this year? Where are we going to go this year? And we’ve been fortunate enough that it’s been building, you know, it’s been moving in a positive direction each year, which is why we keep doing it. And as far as your last question with goals and ambitions, I think, you know, to reach as many ears as possible, you know, who are willing and able to listen to our music. That’s a big part of it. As long as we keep playing in front of bigger crowds and trying to bring in more people, you know, the more people you get turned on to it, the easier it is to be successful.

Ragin’ Randy: You guys have Lockn’ and Catskill Chill coming up in the same weekend. You’ve got to be psyched to be on both of those lineups. How did you guys land those gigs? Is your manager working hard for you?

Mickey: Manager and booking agent, yeah.

Ragin’ Randy: Yeah, I met Billy briefly, and he seems like a good guy and a hard worker.

Mickey: Yes, he is, he works very hard.

Ragin’ Randy: Good, good. My degree is in Music Business, so I understand how hard those guys work. So, I’ve noticed you guys have been sharing stages with lots of different artists, both big and small. Do you approach a live show differently when you’re opening for a bigger act versus when you’re, say, co-headlining with another up-and-coming artist?

Patrick: I don’t think so, you know, a setlist… there’s definitely pre-though to the setlists, given the crowd, but as far as playing in front of bigger crowds, it’s almost easier. You know, we just came off of Peach Fest Thursday night, and there’s 7,000 people or something. That’s a lot of people, but it almost felt easier to get on stage than, you know, in a small bar room where everybody’s kind of tight and listening. So, you know, at that point, it’s just, like, get up and go, you know, hard drive it until the end of the show.

Ragin’ Randy: That’s interesting, because I, personally, don’t think I would feel that way [laughs].

Patrick: Well, there’s always the intention of keeping the set tight and keeping a good connection on stage, regardless what crowd it is.

Ragin’ Randy: Cool. Can you guys give me an idea of how much of your set is improvised and how much is planned?

Patrick: It’s probably 90% improvised.

Mickey: No, no.

Patrick: Well, we don’t rehearse, you know? We rarely rehearse for a show.

Ragin’ Randy: Well, what I mean is do you play the songs exactly how they are on the album?

Patrick: Not really.

Mickey: We leave a lot of room for improvisation.

Patrick: Yeah, or changing parts or trade-offs. We like to play with each other, musically.

Todd: We kind of stick to the form, but we improvise inside of the form, you know.

Ragin’ Randy: Umphrey’s McGee is well known for their signals on-stage while they’re improvising. Do you guys have anything like that or do you just work off of each other?

Mickey: No, just simple communication. Not, like, signals, but maybe a cue or a nod, maybe, or just a facial expression. Sometimes it happens without having to do that.

Todd: I’ve been interested in trying to do something like that for a while, but like Pappy said, we don’t have too many opportunities to rehearse. We’re usually, if we’re not hitting it hard, then we’re having some family time. But I do wonder how the signals would work for us.

Ragin’ Randy: It’s interesting, and UM even has silent mics on certain stages, so they can actually talk to each other, and the audience doesn’t hear.

Todd: That’s interesting!

Mickey: Oh, like an in-ear monitor? Yeah, yeah.

Todd: I like that idea.

Mickey: [leans in to voice recorder] If anyone wants to send us money so we can do that, please do [laughs].

Ragin’ Randy: Alright, one more question. I posted in the Cabinet Fans Facebook Group asking if anyone had any questions for the band, and I got a good one from Cabinet Fan Gina Paret. She asks if you intend to go back into the studio any time soon? She says, “Your studio recordings are on heavy rotation in our house, and we're looking forward to some new material.”

Mickey: We just finished a pretty serious studio session. It’s just, some things need to be rerecorded, and, you know, whatever, then it needs to get mixed and mastered. But there will be a studio recording at some point in the near future.

Ragin’ Randy: Alright, well, I really enjoyed your set, and thank you very much for taking the time to talk with me.

Patrick: Thank you, man.

Mickey: Thanks.

Todd: Thanks.

Yonder Mountain String Band Fall Tour Announced

Yesterday, Yonder Mountain String Band (YMSB) gave us some Fall Tour dates! Check out the band's tour page for tickets and full details here.

YMSB Fall Tour Dates

10/16 Ozark, AR Yonder Harvest Music Festival #*^

10/17 Ozark, AR Yonder Harvest Music Festival #*^

10/18 Ozark, AR Yonder Harvest Music Festival #*^

10/23 Augusta, GA - Jessye Norman Amphitheatre *^

10/24 Birmingham, AL - Iron City Music Hall ^

10/25 Athens, GA - Georgia Theater ^

10/26 Savannah, GA - Trustee Garden ^

10/29 Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom *^

10/30 Chattanooga, TN - Track 29 *^

11/01 Winston-Salem, NC - Ziggy's *^

11/05 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom *^

11/06 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *^

11/07 Chicago, IL - House of Blues *^

11/08 Chicago, IL - House of Blues *^

11/12 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground *^

11/13 Boston, MA - House of Blues *^

11/14 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of the Living Arts *^

11/15 Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl *^

# Jerry Douglas on dobro

*Allie Kral on fiddle

^ Jake Jolliff on mandolin